Asked & Answered

Q: I’m a journalist at a radio station doing a story about people who are soliciting money pledges for various causes on the local university campus, outdoors, in public.   I approached them with a recorder, identified myself as a radio reporter and started asking them questions. Their response was, “I dont want to answer any questions!” Is it legal to include that audio clip in my story, which would air on the radio? Or am I not allowed to, since they did

Q: If a group of scientists is doing research at a state university, but the research is funded entirely by the National Science Foundation (a federal agency), is the group’s work exempt from the CPRA? A: The Act states that “public records” include “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.” Gov’t Code § 6252(e) (emph.

Q: I believe the City Council  violated the Brown Act at a recent meeting when councilmembers voted 5-0 to move a closed-session item, described only with the name of an individual to the Regular Agenda. Can you tell me if it was proper for the City Council to move a closed-session item to the Regular Agenda during the Open Meeting without proper notice that it would be discussed in open session? A: If the City Council moved

Q: My local Neighborhood Council  put forth a motion in the Urban Design and Preservation Committee to ban short term rentals. Luckily one concerned neighbor caught it and individually contacted 100 Airbnb hosts, 50 of whom showed up at the Council meeting that night.  The Council referenced a complaint letter but wouldn’t show it to us because they said the writer wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. I found out I could request

Q: I cover school sports for the local newspaper and recently a coach was fired amid rumors that he/she was abusive toward players. Apparently the schools  feel no obligation to answer questions on the troubling situation. When asked, they invoke the phrase “personnel matter” like a talisman, and won’t say anything beyond either “the coach remains employed here” or “the coach is no longer employed here.” Am I out of luck in this case, or